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Turkish miners take protest underground

A GROUP of about 300 Turkish miners barricaded themselves underground on Friday in protest of working conditions as well as lacking worker safety.

Donna Schmidt
Turkish miners take protest underground

According to the Dogan News Agency and UPI, the workers on the night shift at Turkish Hard Coal Authority’s (TTK) Uzulmez district in the Zonguldak province refused to leave their posts located about 170m underground.

Those arriving for the mine’s day shift reportedly added their support to the group’s fight, speaking out against the lack of protective boots and clothing and the late arrival of medical assistance following incidents.

DNA said Mine Workers Union chairman Eyup Alabas and GMIS Uzulmez branch head Osman Tutkun visited the workers and Tutkun told media that the mine’s workers had been subject to psychological pressure for about a year.

He said they “reached the end of their rope” when an ambulance arrived 35 minutes late to the mine following a worker’s heart attack.

“No manager has been appointed to the business for the past five months and nobody says anything about it,” he told the news service.

“The main paths inside the mine collapsed six months ago and mining was halted for five days.

“Moreover, locking the doors is cruel for the workers.”

The miners will reportedly continue demonstrating underground until the company meets their demands for better conditions.

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